Eric Trump called into the show to defend his father from criticism prompted by the first government shutdown in more than four years, as well as a series of Women's March events that saw protesters in dozens of cities take to the streets to oppose the president's policies.

Speaking to host Jeannine Piro — who is reportedly an old friend of the president's — Eric Trump offered effusive praise for his father, ticking off glowing statistics to illustrate the strength of the U.S. economy and gains against Islamic State fighters overseas.

Jan. 20, 2018, 4:47 p.m.

President Trump hailed the nationwide Women’s March gatherings Saturday.

On Twitter, the president called it “a perfect day for all Women to March,” seeming to imply that those taking part were celebrating his administration’s accomplishments:

Beautiful weather all over our great country, a perfect day for all Women to March. Get out there now to celebrate the historic milestones and unprecedented economic success and wealth creation that has taken place over the last 12 months. Lowest female unemployment in 18 years!

That comes after Senate Democrats late Friday killed a GOP-written House-passed measure that would have kept agencies functioning for four weeks. Democrats were seeking a stopgap bill of just a few days in hopes that would build pressure on Republicans, and they were opposing a three-week alternative offered by GOP leaders.

Democrats have insisted they would back legislation reopening the government once there's a bipartisan agreement to preserve protections against deporting about 700,000 immigrants — known as “Dreamers” — who arrived in the United States illegally as children.

Jan. 19, 2018, 6:31 p.m.

President Trump appeared to cast doubt on the likelihood of reaching a deal to avert a government shutdown Friday night in a tweet.

Trump also sought to blame Democrats for what would be the first shutdown since 2013.

His message came just hours before the midnight deadline by which lawmakers must pass a measure to fund government agencies, or some operations will cease.

Not looking good for our great Military or Safety & Security on the very dangerous Southern Border. Dems want a Shutdown in order to help diminish the great success of the Tax Cuts, and what they are doing for our booming economy.

Jan. 19, 2018, 2:40 p.m.

President Trump on Friday signed a bill into law to renew a foreign intelligence surveillance program, announcing his action in the latest in a series of confusing tweets about the spy program:

Just signed 702 Bill to reauthorize foreign intelligence collection. This is NOT the same FISA law that was so wrongly abused during the election. I will always do the right thing for our country and put the safety of the American people first!

Trump's tweet on Jan. 11 created chaos in the House just before it voted to reauthorize what is known as Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. He linked the intelligence program to a dossier that alleges his presidential campaign had ties to Russia.

That caused people to wonder if he didn't support the program that allows U.S. spy agencies to collect intelligence on foreign targets abroad.

Jan. 19, 2018, 2:17 p.m.

After a surprise meeting with President Trump as a government shutdown loomed, Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Friday that “progress” had been made and negotiations would continue.

The moment marked the president personally stepping to the forefront of the anti-abortion movement in the United States as the anniversary of his inauguration approaches. Last year, Vice President Mike Pence addressed the crowd in Trump's absence. In the year since, Trump has delivered on rules and policies he had promised in an effort to help curb abortion rights legalized 45 years ago. Chief among them is the confirmation of conservative Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch.

Advertisement

Jan. 18, 2018, 1:04 p.m.

The White House press office was once again forced to walk back a tweet from President Trump on Thursday morning after he described a trip to Pennsylvania later in the day as a political one — a statement that would force the Republican Party, not taxpayers, to pay for the journey.

The White House had said Trump was going to an industrial equipment company outside of Pittsburgh to highlight the good economy and new tax cuts, making it an official, policy-oriented event.

It was widely assumed that the trip had a political cast — the area is holding a special election to fill a congressional seat vacated by a Republican who resigned. Trump, by his tweet, seemed to confirm that politics was the whole purpose:

Will be going to Pennsylvania today in order to give my total support to RICK SACCONE, running for Congress in a Special Election (March 13). Rick is a great guy. We need more Republicans to continue our already successful agenda!

The Wall is the Wall, it has never changed or evolved from the first day I conceived of it. Parts will be, of necessity, see through and it was never intended to be built in areas where there is natural protection such as mountains, wastelands or tough rivers or water.....

....The Wall will be paid for, directly or indirectly, or through longer term reimbursement, by Mexico, which has a ridiculous $71 billion dollar trade surplus with the U.S. The $20 billion dollar Wall is “peanuts” compared to what Mexico makes from the U.S. NAFTA is a bad joke!

The “award” recipients included a mix of reporters for the New York Times, ABC News and the Washington Post, as well as reports published by CNN, Time, Newsweek and the New York Times. The winners list also included one topic: “Russia Collusion,” which the list called “perhaps the greatest hoax perpetrated on the American people.”